It's been several months since Alyssa joined the crew of the Normandy. She has become well acquainted with the crew. Her friendship with Joker has gone off without a hitch. Once a week, he would stretch and massage her back, and she would teach him how to play the guitar in return.
"Hey, Shepard, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, Joker. What do you need?" Joker rubbed the back of his neck.
"I don't know how to ask this.." Shepard raised a brow.
"Uh.. howdoiasksomeoneonadate?"
"What? That didn't make sense at all."
Joker sighed and turned his chair towards Shepard.
"How do I ask someone out to dinner? Like, strictly platonic."
"Who are you asking out to dinner?"
"No one."
"Joker.."
"It's nothing! I just want to have dinner!"
"If it's just friends, just simply ask. Hey, are you hungry? Let's get something to eat. Easy as that."
"Well, what if it's not a friend? What if it's with someone who is more than a friend-"
"Wait. You just told me it was with someone platonic." Shepard placed her hands on her hips.
"Is there something you're not telling me? Do you have a girlfriend you're not telling me about?"
"No! Shepard, you know me! I'm not exactly boyfriend material. And besides, no one wants to deal with someone like me."
"Alyssa seems to be patient enough for you."
"She's only putting up with me because you told her to. There's nothing going on. Trust me."
"Mmhm." Shepard started walking away from the cockpit.
"And she's not the one I'm asking either!"
"We all know the answer to that one, Jeff. I'll let you go on shore leave with her when we reach the Citadel."
"I'm not asking her!"
"Just do it, Jeff!"
Joker gritted his teeth at the name.
He hated when Shepard would use his real name. That was her way of showing she was serious, even though she just sounded like she was teasing him. Joker sighed as he pressed buttons on the console in front of him.
"Hey Commander, we're getting close to the next relay. ETA 15 minutes."
"Thanks, Joker. And you should ask her."
"Shepard!"
"Just saying." Click.
Joker sighed as the windows showing the dark void turned a bright blue.
Joker was having a great time with Alyssa. They've only known each other for the time she's been on board, but he feels like she's known her his whole life. For the first time, he felt like he could actually open up to someone without worrying about them feeling pity for what he was going through. He felt like he really had a true friend.
May be even more than that.
It could have something to do with her having Scoliosis and him with Vrolik's, he didn't know. It could be that she's just as stubborn and blunt as he is. There wasn't one thing that he could relate to with her. It was many things.
The Normandy got through the relay perfectly, now en route to the Citadel. Joker leaned back in his seat, and contemplated on what to do next. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard his omnitool ping.
Do it. I know you want to. Shepard
Joker shook his head and replied:
Okay! If it'll make you stop. Now this is just getting annoying.
His omnitool went quiet. He took off his cap and ran his hand through his hair, obviously frustrated at the issue at hand. He never really did something like this before. It usually started with him getting buzzed in a club, then an asari would come up and try to get him to dance, he would say no, and the asari walks away and finds someone else to dance with. Then Joker's in the corner drinking away his life.
He doesn't want to drink his life away anymore. Not with this girl, at least. His omnitool pinged again.
I just made your reservations for a restaurant on the Zakera Ward. You're welcome. Shepard.
Joker sighed as he deleted her message. His omnitool pinged one more time, but he didn't bother to read it. He decided to just focus on getting the ship to the Citadel, and then he'll deal with all this when they get there. His thoughts were interrupted once more by footsteps coming up behind him.
"Alright, Shepard, you can stop now. I'll ask her if you completely stop."
"Ask what?"
That was a voice he wasn't expecting to hear. He turned around to see Alyssa standing there. Her hair was wet from just getting out of the shower, wearing an oversized shirt and a pair of leggings. Joker could feel himself blush from under the bill of his cap.
"Oh, nothing. What are you doing up here? I thought this was your time off." Joker turned back around, trying to hide his red face.
"I heard we were docking soon, and I wanted to watch." Alyssa came up to his side and sat on his armrest. Joker felt kind of weird sitting so close to her. He could smell the fragrance of her shampoo coming from her body. It smelled like flowers his mom used to plant around his house on Earth.
He felt nervous around her, probably thanks to the awkward talk him and Shepard just had.
"Normandy, you are clear to dock," Alyssa and Joker heard in the cockpit.
"Can I take her in?" she asked, looking at the pilot. He nodded at her, and she stood in front of him.
Things got awkward, fast. Joker was sitting in his usual seat. Alyssa was standing in front of him, manning the consoles of the ship. He looked at her silhouette, trying not to stare at her ass. He didn't know what to do. He looked around, up, down, behind..
'Ah.. fuck it,' Joker thought.
'It's now or never, I guess.'
He reached out and grabbed her by the waist, and she stepped back and sat on his lap. Joker's eyes widened, surprised she didn't go running off or slapped him in the face for touching her like that. She sat there like nothing happened, happy and content. He rested his hands on her thighs and looked over her shoulder.
"Alright, so we're getting close to the docking bay. Our spot is right there." Alyssa pointed to a port slightly to their left."
"Okay, let me handle it." Joker put his arms out and took control of the Normandy. Alyssa didn't move; she decided to sit there and watch. From his lap. Still.
Joker smoothly glided the ship into its port, then alerted the crew that they just arrived at the Citadel, and that Shepard ordered a shore leave for the next few days while they replenish their replies.
"Are you going to take your leave?" Alyssa asked, finally standing up.
"I'm thinking about it. I'm not usually one to leave the ship, though. You know, the legs." Alyssa chuckled.
"Alright then. I'd love to spend some time with you if you decide to leave. I'm going to go and get ready. I'm thinking of doing some shopping. See you later."
"Bye."
Ping.
Joker waited for Alyssa to get into the elevator before opening his omnitool. He already knew what it was going to say.
WHAT WAS THAT? SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU! THAT WAS PERFECT TIMING FOR YOU TO ASK! DO I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING FOR YOU?
He took a deep breath.
I got it under control.